Penstemon plant named ‘Peni Vio09’

ABSTRACT

A new  Penstemon  plant named ‘Peni Vio09,’ particularly distinguished by large, purple flowers, upright and medium-compact plants, strong stems, and an earlier flowering habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Penstemonhartwegii benth.

Varietal denomination: ‘Peni Vio09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Penstemon, botanically known asPenstemon hartwegii benth, and hereinafter referred to by the varietyname ‘Peni Vio09.’

‘Peni Vio09’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The newcultivar ‘Peni Vio09’ has large, purple flowers, upright andmedium-compact plant, strong stems, and an earlier flowering habit.

‘Peni Vio09’ originated from a hybridization in a controlled breedingprogram in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The female parent was a patented hybridseedling identified as ‘Pheni Vio,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,933, withpurple color. ‘Pheni Vio’ has a lighter purple color, a taller habit,and it later to flower than ‘Peni Vio09.’

The male parent of ‘Peni Vio09’ was an unpatented hybrid seedlingidentified as ‘104-1’ with an apple blossom color. ‘104-1’ has a tallerhabit, less vigor, and is later to flower than ‘Pnei Vio09.’

‘Peni Vio09’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in April 2005 in a controlled environment in Gilroy,Calif. USA.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Peni Vio09’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings taken from the initial selection in April 2006in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The pollination tookplace in July 2005 and the seed sowing in October 2005 all in Gilroy,Calif., USA.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in April 2006 in Gilroy, Calif. USA, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Peni Vio09’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Peni Vio09’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada onDec. 24, 2007. ‘Peni Vio09’ has not been made publicly available morethan one year prior to the filing of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Peni Vio09’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing showsflowering plants of the new variety and a close-up of the inflorescence.

The flowering plants photo was taken in August 2008 and the plants weregrowing in field trials in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The close-up photographwas taken in September 2007.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in April 2008 on plants that were growing in1 gallon pots in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. USA. Culture of theseplants started in about January 2008 in a greenhouse. The plants wereabout 4 months old.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown outside in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The following traits havebeen repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristicsof the new variety. The combination of these characteristicsdistinguishes this Penstemon as a new and distinct variety.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PENI VIO09’ AND A SIMILARVARIETY ‘Pheni Vio’ (U.S. Plant ‘Peni Vio09’ Pat. No. 17,933) Flowercolor Darker purple Lighter purple Flower response Earlier Later Planthabit More compact/shorter Less compact/little taller

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Upright and medium-compact plants,            strong stems, and good vigor.        -   Plant height.—29–32 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—46–50 cm.        -   Plant width.—30–35 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite and decussant.        -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 146B.        -   Lower surface.—Closest to RHS 146B.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 146A.        -   Lower surface.—Closest to RHS 146B.        -   Length.—10.8–12.2 cm.        -   Width.—2.6–2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Base shape.—Acuminate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.        -   Texture.—Pubescence on both sides.        -   Color of veins, upper and lower surfaces.—RHS 144C.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of main stems per plant.—3–4.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—20–24.        -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of stem.—30–34 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—1.5–2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Sparse short pubescence.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—On first flowering it appears to be a raceme, then            matures to more of a thyrse with short peduncles emerging at            the nodes in opposite arrangement, each peduncle bearing 2–4            flowers or buds at various stages of development; the            flowers are held somewhat horizontally.        -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent; removing of spent flowers            enhances development of new flowers.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—12–14; early terminal            pinching of apices enhances formation of more racemes.        -   Raceme color.—RHS 144A.        -   Raceme length.—12–15 cm.        -   Raceme texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144B; anthocyanins of RHS N79B to C            on the top surface of the peduncle.        -   Length of peduncle.—0.6–0.7 cm.        -   Diameter of peduncle.—0.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent; glandular hairs.        -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 144B; anthocyanins of RHS N79B to C on            the top surface of the pedicel.        -   Length of pedicel.—0.5–0.7 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent to hirsute.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic and single; funnel-shaped with the petals            mainly fused at base, 5 free lobed, opening outward.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of individual florets.—About 6–7 days.        -   Width of floret.—3.7–4.2 cm.        -   Depth of floret.—3.8–3.9 cm.        -   Color, upper lobes, upper surface.—RHS N79B maturing to            between RHS N79B and C.        -   Color, upper lobes, lower surface.—RHS N79C.        -   Length of upper lobes.—1.1–1.3 cm.        -   Width of upper lobes.—1.1–1.2 cm.        -   Color, lateral lobes, upper surface.—Same as upper.        -   Color, lateral lobes, lower surface.—Same as upper.        -   Length of lateral lobes.—1.3–1.4 cm.        -   Width of lateral lobes.—1.5–1.6 cm.        -   Color, lower mid-lobe, upper surface.—Same as upper.        -   Color, lower mid-lobe, lower surface.—Same as upper.        -   Length of lower mid-lobe.—1.1–1.2 cm.        -   Width of lower mid-lobe.—1.5–1.6 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded to sometimes slightly obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture.—Papillose and some slight pubescence on both            surfaces.        -   Corolla color, inside.—RHS N155B but whiter.        -   Corolla color, outside.—RHS N79B to C.        -   Corolla length.—3.1–3.4 cm.-   Bud (just before opening):    -   -   Color.—RHS 59A.        -   Length.—2.7–2.9 cm.        -   Width.—1.0–1.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Number of sepals.—5, fused at base.        -   Color of sepals.—RHS 144B; sometimes with anthocyanins of            RHS N79B to C mainly on the margins.        -   Length of sepals.—0.9–1.1 cm.        -   Width of sepals.—0.6–0.7 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent; glandular hairs.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—1.        -   Style color.—RHS 67B on the basal one half, with RHS N155B            on the upper one half.        -   Style length.—2.7–3.1 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 149D.        -   Number of anthers.—5, 4 of which are fertile.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS 155D.        -   Length of filaments.—2.5–2.8 cm.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 158A.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Not observed on this hybrid.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance or susceptibility has    not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Penstemon plant named ‘Peni Vio09,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.